The best beaches in Vietnam

21.07.2023 - 07:32 / roughguides.com / City Beach

With more than 2000 miles of coastline, Vietnam is one of the cheapest places to travel for a beach holiday. It brims with secluded coves, white sands and waters fit for snorkelling. For days spent basking on sun-baked strands and evenings taking in the sunset, here are the best beaches in Vietnam.

The information in this article is inspired by the Rough Guide to Vietnam , your essential guide for visiting Vietnam .

Long Beach (Bai Trong), spanning the west coast of Phu Quoc Island, is a 20km stretch of largely deserted soft yellow sand and swaying coconut palms. Ideal for sunbathing, sunset watching and swimming, this beach is great for classic tropical beach views. It's undoubtedly the best Phu Quoc has to offer.

Phu Quoc is an island paradise — swim and snorkel with fascinating marine life at three different spots.

Long Beach, Phu Quoc in-Vietnam © Shutterstock

The largely undeveloped east coast of Phu Quoc is less frequented than, but just as beautiful as, the more popular west. One of the best beaches in Vietnam, Star Beach (Bai Sao) has dazzling white sands and mesmerizing, usually calm waters. A few beach restaurants line the beach, and in the season there are kayaks for rent and half-day snorkelling trips by boat.

This romantic tailor-made trip to Vietnam offers the ideal mix of culture (Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City) paired with nature (Halong Bay, Mekong Delta) and ending the trip on picturesque Phu Quoc. This trip will take you through some of the best sites that Vietnam has to offer — the best beaches in Vietnam included!

Star Beach, otherwise known as Bai Sao, is one of the best beaches in Vietnam © Oksana Stock / Shutterstock

Nha Trang, a delightful south-coast city, is generally recognised as one of the best beaches in Vietnam. Six kilometres of sand join the sea to the city. Rolling waves are on one side, and the other is fringed by cafes, restaurants and some unusual modern sculptures.

Watersports, day trips by boat and, of course, fresh pineapple are all readily available. However, bear in mind that the more choppy waters of November and December means that the beach loses much of its appeal during this time.

The freshest fish will always be the one you catch yourself — take a full-day fishing and snorkelling tour and BBQ it on the boat.

Nha Trang's City Beach © Dima Fadeev / Shutterstock

Just north of Nha Trang lies the secluded Hon Chong Beach. It's less refined than its central counterpart but worth the trip for the night-time views across the bay to the city centre. Cheap seafood restaurants abound at its far end. Also worth a visit is the rocky outcrop with a view over the city.

Combine your beach visit with a city tour of Nha Trang. Admire the cathedral, ancient temples, markets,